Dear New Tanks - A letter from experienced/lifelong tanks

[Kalsam]

My Blog Entry, I'd like to share with all of you.

I can't really think of why I thought of writing this blog entry like this, but after I finished, I had to sit back and go... yeah, this works.

It's too easy to lose sight of what it's like to a brand new tank to be there, beginning their journey into this exciting, thrilling, chilling and sometimes terrifying path to become a tank.

Specially for those of us who've been doing it for a while.

I've been in runs recently where others whom tank are chewing out the new tank for a small mistake here or there. I try to soothe it over, flipping their criticism into advice.
I've even had one new tank thank me for offering advice, instead of merely saying they sucked. That my kindness was enough to give them hope and keep on tanking.

And perhaps it was that. The worry that it may be fellow tanks scaring off any new potentials. Come on guys, we're tanks. We lead! We're not the damage dealers. :P

[Syzygian]

Come on guys, we're tanks. We lead! We're not the damage dealers. :P

Everyone's gonna read up to here and then be like RAWRBRAWRBAHWAHABWA FELL CLEAVE 1-SHOT LIVING LIQUID SICK DEEPZ PARRY SUCKS TOO MUCH VIT UNGGGH SCREW YOUR MELDS FULL SLAYING L2P GIT GUD HNNNGGGG.

Good blog though. +1.

[Kalsam]

Everyone's gonna read up to here and then be like RAWRBRAWRBAHWAHABWA FELL CLEAVE 1-SHOT LIVING LIQUID SICK DEEPZ PARRY SUCKS TOO MUCH VIT UNGGGH SCREW YOUR MELDS FULL SLAYING HNNNGGGG.

Good blog though. +1.

Haha. I'm expecting a few of those. But we all know those won't be the tanks that I'm talking to, or wrote the letter from. :P
They're that in-between zone we don't like to acknowledge >.> lol

[Eye_Gore]

Everyone's gonna read up to here

Atleast its the last line of the post, so they would have had to read to whole thing instead of half and then jumping all over it.

I would go on about my tanking experience, this being my first MMO and unknowingly selecting a tank and what a tank even was. But at the risk of being "that guy" who tells the same stories over and over again, I'll just leave it at, I'm glad I picked a tank (to main) and have a blast with it.

[Kalsam]

Atleast its the last line of the post, so they would have had to read to whole thing instead of half and then jumping all over it.

I would go on about my tanking experience, this being my first MMO and unknowingly selecting a tank and what a tank even was. But at the risk of being "that guy" who tells the same stories over and over again, I'll just leave it at, I'm glad I picked a tank (to main) and have a blast with it.

Good to hear. Always makes me happy to see more people enjoying the role.

[RapBreon]

The idea that tanks are 'leaders' is what puts many people off in the first place.

[Blackbird1]

To be honest i commend any that are willing to take the lead as a tank there's no better way to learn a game then by leading the charge. That being said a new tank will still get bad comments in dungeons sadly since more then half of players in any mmo just seemingly expect a newbie to execute an aggro rotation flawlessly the first time and hold aggro. All these people would like to tell the tank that there doing a bad job that they suck at it forget that they we're new once getting the negitive feedback.

But whats worse are the newbies tanks that refuse to take advice from vet's or do not use the gear they need i.e gladiator's just because they think a shield looks stupid or dont like wearing the plate armor. Best piece of advice to any newbies that read this:"You are the leader not the dps not the healer you pull at your own comfort get a feel for it before you wanna try getting more bold with pulls. You'll get used to it soon enough and be open minded to the advice your given we've already walked that road so we know what we're talking about if they don't like your speed tell them to deal with it or leave and if they try do your job just leave the group you'll find another group easily"

Any of you newbies that stick with your GLA/PLD hats of to you it is a rough tanking job to start with unlike MRD/WAR or DRK

[Exodus_Kenpachi]

I feel like it is really hard to give advice to randoms in this game. People either 1. Don't care and just keep sucking or 2. Get really fucking mad no matter how nice you are.

Honestly I stopped trying to offer advice unless I am asked. But then again I don't PUG so I never really run into the issue.

[SpiritMuse]

I've leveled DRK to 56 and in the process ran a fair few dungeons, though I'd hardly call myself an expert tank. It's an interesting experience. I feel like tanking requires trust more than any other role. You run straight into all the enemies and have to hope that the rest of the group has your back. Because if not, you die.

[Dragoon130]

Showed this to a friend who had just said he was giving up tanking after a bad Toto-rak and it made him feel better, when nothing I said could. As a lifetime tank main in every game I play. I couldn't say it better.